ORION AWAKES

Surprising heavy kraut rockin' effort from Pyramid records. In this unique and explosive essay, Golem experiments dirty, fuzzy, obsessional improvisations largely dominated by killer guitar riffs, epic organs, hammering drums and subtle electronic manipulations. Not weird or cryptical, this album is almost an easy listening and can be considered as a legitimate recommendation for krautrock neophyts. Each track develops its own style, theme and atmosphere, sometimes sounding like an evident bluesy space rock (the opening tune), sometimes more adventurous and progressive, like in the hallucinogenic and jazzy electronic "Jupiter" or more heavy, in the freak 'n roll "the returning" with its crushing guitars and massive repetitive rhythm, almost funky and really electrified in the Hendrixian "Godhead Dance". Still fresh despite the years. To play loud.

The origins of this band and album are somewhat obscure. It was originally released on the small label 'Pyramid Records' that reportedly only pressed a couple of hundred issues of this release, meant for selling them at art galleries and exhibitions. When the album was re-issued on CD in the 90s, many specialists contested if this was genuine 70s material at all, as no one had seen an original vynil copy.

The CD booklet of the 2010 reissue addresses this issue and obviously arguments in favor of the authenticity, but judging by my own ears, the album can hardly be from 1973. The production is too spacious, with a drum sound that is too big and guitar effects (wah-wah, flange, reverb, delay) that sound too clear and professional to be of such ancient origins. Later in the 70's could be possible, but early 90's sounds most probable to me. After all, this album pretty much sounds like Loop's Fade Out from 1989.

Anyways, this is all interesting discussion material for Kraut aficionados, but what about the album itself? When it concerns the quality of this material, you can rest assured, this sounds exactly like your beloved vintage instrumental trip-kraut, with entrancing heavy riffs and layers of fuzzy guitars, effects and organ. It's a perfect album if you like bands such as Agitation Free, Gila and Guru Guru on acid. Each of the 5 tracks offers a distinctly different psych jam, sometimes funky, droning, heavy or more upbeat, but always catchy and groovy.

An excellent soundtrack for your acid parties and recommend title to fans of space-rock and trippy Kraut jams. 3.5 stars.

As Bonnek has pointed out in his review of this album there is some controversy as to how legit this album is. Pyramid Records printed off around 25 copies of vinyl and sold them at art galleries etc. No original copy has ever shown up to verify this and since the cds came out in the nineties many feel these were actually recorded in the nineties but made to sound like a long lost Krautrock classic.The names of the band members led to nowhere when they tried to investigate which is another question mark of course. Like Bonnek I do question how authentic this is just on how it sounds. For most though the bottom line is the music and how good it is. I've really been enjoying the vibe of this record but it wasn't until I had a close listen that I realized that there's something missing.The music doesn't really grab me.The mellotron, organ and synths aren't that upfront and the songs do come across as improvs so...

"Orion Awakes" opens with a beat as sound echo in a psychedelic manner.The guitar before 2 minutes starts to solo as the sound builds. It settles back after 2 1/2 minutes then it rebuilds. Guitar before 4 1/2 minutes. Check out the sound 6 1/2 minutes in. Quite the echo. "Stellar Launch" opens with sounds coming and going then we get a steady beat that picks up. Great sound 2 1/2 minutes in then it settles back after 3 minutes. It's building again then it settles back 5 minutes then builds to an intense jam. An insane finish too. "Godhead Dance" opens with percussion then the guitar comes in playing over top with some aggression as they jam.

"Jupiter & Beyond" has some energy with lots of bottom end. A calm before 3 minutes as it turns psychedelic. It kicks back in quickly but it's not as uptempo. Another calm before 4 1/2 minutes then it slowly builds.The tempo slows down again before 9 minutes but the atmosphere is thick and it's psychedelic. It's picking back up 11 1/2 minutes in then settles back. "The Returning" is mid paced with drums outfront. It's fuller a minute in with guitar. It picks up before 6 minutes to end it.

3.5 stars for now. As I said earlier it's missing something.

German 5-piece Golem's only album sees its theme of space travel acting as a metaphor for spiritual and psychological growth. The tracks here broadly represent a hero's journey; something that American mythologist Joseph Campbell called a ''monomyth''. He had a profound influence on Grateful Dead (funnily enough he lived next door to rhythm guitarist Bobby Weir) who in turn had an influence on Krautrock. Campbell argued that mythic patterns carried through into contemporary life, and his monomyth schema of self-transcendence incorporated stages of Departure, Initiation (meeting the godhead, or all-knowing presence), and Return. A cursory glance at the track-titles here confirms that ''Orion Awakes'' represents a similar psychedelic or spiritual experience.

The music is entirely instrumental and most tracks seem to adhere to a musical template of soft, moody introduction, the music then gradually taking shape and becoming loud and rhythmic with treated guitars and throbbing pulses. The last two tracks don't really follow this well-worn path though, with the epic ''Jupiter And Beyond'' beginning in urgent mood and developing into a montage of contrasting sections. The dirge-like ''The Returning'' sounds like The Velvet Underground's ''Sister Ray'', complete with psychedelic organ. And it's nothing like Jonathan Richman's ''Roadrunner'' homage to the same Velvets' song. Worth mentioning is the fact that Karl and John have questioned whether this is an authentic '70s release. Be that as it may, for fans of this type of music ''Orion Awakes'' is definitely worth checking out.

One of those alleged 'forgery' and 'fraud' albums released on the mysterious 'Pyramid' label.

After listening to this amongst a lot of Krautrock albums from the same era, I'm inclined to think it probably is a hoax after all. It just doesn't ring true. There's too much definite space between instruments that I don't think was possible in the early 70's (as mentioned by reviewer Bonnek), despite what the liner notes say. If there were any vocals present it would be a lot easier to determine it's authenticity.

Apparently the keyboard player Manfred Hof was in a band called 'Spirulina'. No... I've never heard of them either.

Oh and another thing - Genius P. Orridge on production? Give me a break, who comes out with these crumby half disguised names? The fact that they've obviously heard of Genesis P. Orridge of Throbbing Gristle proves that they're fraudsters as TG didn't exist until '75 and this LP was purportedly released in '73.

'Orion Awakes' one way or the other, is something of a surprise. I didn't hold out much hope for this one before hearing it, but have been pleasantly surprised. Starting off like Talk Talk's 'Spirit of Eden' it quickly morphs into a lot of wah-wah guitar fuzz and effected drums. The lack of vocals doesn't harm this album at all, in fact, now that I think on it, it's quite 'Ozric Tentacles' but in a more grubby and Tuetonic way.

'Godhead Dance' has a catchy little tune which actually has me drumming my fingers while typing this review up and I'm really liking those treated guitars. The best is left for last with 'The Returning ' with it's grumbling guitars and bass which to my ears sounds incredibly like Joy Division circa '79.

If you like spacey powerful acid guitars and organs that are a bit on the heavy side, you'll probably like this a lot.

In a way 'Orion Awakes' almost sounds like a collection of material from different sessions, which once again gets me wondering if it's authentic after all... Grrrr!! I hate unanswered questions...